EUROPE - The commercial property market across Europe is on the cusp of a boom, with rents set to continue rising thus boosting the asset class's total return, said ING Real Estate Investment Management.

GLOBAL - Pension funds still need to do more to drive SRI as it would spur other industry areas forward, said Rory Sullivan, head of investor responsibility at Insight Investment.

UK - Removing the retirement age, withdrawing means testing and offering financial incentives could be the answer to boost progress on pensions, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) has claimed.

NORTH AMERICA - Four out of five US and Canadian DB pension plans would consider outsourcing their plan management, while nearly a third will close their plan by 2007, a poll by SEI has found.

INSURERS are backing plans by the Financial Services Authority to extend the "realistic" capital requirements applied to firms.

NORTH AMERICA - Four out of five US and Canadian DB pension plans would consider outsourcing their plan management, while nearly a third will close their plan by 2007, a poll by SEI has found.

ENGINEERING consultancy Advantica has relaunched its flexible benefits package online in a bid to boost take-up of its more tax efficient options.

UK - The £1bn Warwickshire Pension Fund said it was making its first foray into alternatives after it tendered for fund of hedge fund and also property investment management services, worth £50m each.

THE UK pensions industry fails to serve the interests of customers, banks, insurance companies or independent financial advisers, the Financial Services Authority chairman warns.

SOUTH AFRICA - The Financial Services Board (FSB) has confirmed at least two more arrests would be made this week in the high-profile pension fraud case involving businessman Peter Ghavalas.